The Ultimate Fallout Shelter Quiz

Worst case scenarios are tough for many people to think about, but fallout shelters are exactly that. Despite the end of the Cold War, the threat of nuclear war remains real. How much protection can a fallout shelter actually provide, and how can you build your own? Find out for yourself by taking this quiz.

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Question 1 of 15

What event is considered to mark the end of the Cold War era?

the break up of the Soviet Union

Along with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the end of the Soviet Union marked the end of an era marked by fear and paranoia.

South Korea's push for nuclear weapons

U.S. decision to sign a nuclear disarmament treaty

Question 2 of 15

Under which president did the U.S. Congress provide $100 million to build fallout shelters for public use?

John F. Kennedy

Cold War emotions were strong during the Kennedy era, with such events as the Cuban Missile Crisis ratcheting up fears of nuclear war.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Richard Nixon

Question 3 of 15

As of March 2008, approximately how many nuclear warheads did Russia have for every one that the United States had?

one

two

Despite attempts to reduce the nuclear arsenals of the world's superpowers, serious reduction had yet to occur. Russia had about 20,000 nuclear warheads to 9,938 for the U.S.

four

Question 4 of 15

How large an area would be completely decimated by the explosion of a one-megaton hydrogen bomb?

a 2-mile radius

That area would be completely wiped out, but people in an even larger area, up to 5 miles away, would be subject to third-degree burns.

a 10-mile radius

a 50-mile

Question 5 of 15

About how much pressure would be exerted upon a structure near ground zero in a one-megaton hydrogen bomb explosion?

15 pounds per square inch

50 pounds per square inch

If a building were built out of concrete or metal and were designed to withstand that much pressure, it might survive such a blast. Particularly the underground portion of the building might have a decent chance of survival.

100 pounds per square inch

Question 6 of 15

Which of these radiation types that could be part of nuclear radiation is the most dangerous?

alpha particles

beta particles

gamma rays

Alpha and beta particles can barely penetrate anything solid. Gamma rays, on the other hand, are energetic photons that can penetrate even heavy metals.

Question 7 of 15

When are beta particles highly dangerous to humans?

when they are inhaled or consumed

Beta particles can't penetrate solids as light as plastic. Thus, fallout shelters would be likely to prevent direct damage from this type of radiation, unless they are inhaled.

when they are generated from a nuclear explosion

when they are fused with alpha particles

Question 8 of 15

What forms the infamous mushroom clouds that are visible following a nuclear explosion?

particles of earth from the spot of the explosion

The earth particles are charged with radiation and as they fall they deliver that radiation. Too much exposure can be deadly.

substances that were already in the air, fused by heat

the material that made up the bomb itself

Question 9 of 15

What does PF stand for, in relation to fallout shelters?

Protection Factor

The Protection Factor number describes the ratio of the amount of radiation outside the shelter to that inside the shelter.

Post-Fallout

Prepared Food

Question 10 of 15

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), what is the minimum PF that a room requires to be designated a fallout shelter?

five

15

40

At PF 40, a person inside the shelter would be exposed to only two-and-a-half percent of the radiation that someone outside would be.

Question 11 of 15

What does the universal sign for a fallout shelter look like?

three inverted triangles in a circle

The three inverted triangles seem to resemble things falling from the sky. It is not to be confused with the symbol for general radiation, which is the circle split into thirds described here.

wavy vertical lines above a triangle pointing up

a black and yellow circle, split into thirds

Question 12 of 15

How many people must public fallout shelters in the U.S. be able to accommodate?

at least 10

at least 25

at least 50

According to FEMA regulations, each person needs at least 10 square feet of space, and 6 and a half feet overhead.

Question 13 of 15

How long is it recommended to stay in a fallout shelter following a nuclear attack?

two days

two weeks

Much of the radiation may dissipate sooner, but two weeks is the recommended safe bet.

two months

Question 14 of 15

What supplies does FEMA recommend you stock your fallout shelter with for a two-week stay?

3.5 gallons of drinking water per person

Humans can survive for two weeks on very little food. But drinking water is essential.

5,000 calories worth of non-perishable food per person

25 candles and a battery-powered radio

Question 15 of 15

What is the primary means of protection in a pole-covered trench fallout shelter?

metal poles

earth

In this homemade fallout shelter, you dig a trench in the ground, cover the top with poles and tarps, then pile earth on top of the tarps.